Machine for installing a marking element in concrete pavement



D. Y. BATE Sept. 25, 1934.

MACHINE FOR INSTALLING A MARKING ELEMENT IN CONCRETE PAVEMENT Filed Feb.25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l a km N Sept. 25, 1934. D. Y. BATE 1,974,979

MACHINE FOR INSTALLING A MARKING ELEMENT IN CONCRETE PAVEMENT Filed Feb.25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w" n L U Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR INSTALLING A MARKING ELEMENT IN CONCRETEPAVEMENT.

My invention relates to a machine to install a marking element, composedof white cement concrete, in newly laid concrete pavement at the timethe pavement slab is constructed, or, by dispensing with certainoperating parts, enable the machine to be used in applying the markingelement to old pavements. This marking element serving to designatetraflic lanes, is in color contrast to the adjacent commercial grayconcrete pavement and being of the same material, concrete, as the mainpavement slab, bonds to said slab and forms an integral part of thepavement, wearing to the same extent as the pave ment proper.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a machine foreconomically placing this white concrete stripe or marking element intoand bonding it with the newly laid pavement slab while said slab is yetin a plastic, workable condition.

Certain pavement finishing machinery is now in use and known as a screedand tamper, whereby a slab of pavement can be finished progressively andwithout interruption. This machine is provided with a cross-bar, whichis the tamper", extending the full width of the slab, and. having an upand down motion against the concrete which serves to compress theconcrete to the desired cross-section for the slab.

It is an object of my invention to make use of this cross-bar attachmentand the movement thereof by providing a shoe with a width sufficient toprovide a recess of the width desired for the marking element and toindent into the newly laid slab to a predetermined depth by riding onthe contact side of the tamper and extending suificiently below it.

Another object of this machine is to provide a marking machine to followthe above mentioned screed and tamper, adapted to use the same tracks assaid screed and tamper, powered to run at, or about the same speed, saidmachine further being adapted to carry a quantity of the white concretein a plastic form, in a suitable hopper ready to be applied in therecess or trench previously formed by the shoe on the tamper.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine to place theplastic white concrete in the recess or trench formed by the abovementioned arrangement and action of the shoe and to shape said whiteconcrete.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for covering theplastic white concrete with protective paper, preventing the blending ofthe slab concrete with the white concrete, also to protect the color ofthe white concrete when sealing compound is sprayed over the entirepavement slab for curing, after which the covering paper will be wornoff by traflic or may be removed to expose the marking elementimmediately after expiration of the curing period.

The white concrete above mentioned shall consist of commercial whitecement, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate and water in suchproportions as will comply with specifications for the generalconstruction of the pavement slab to be marked by this machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such a machinewith adjustable features to accommodate for variation in width, depth,number and location of stripes desired for the marking outof trafllclanes.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, my invention resides in theparts, their construction, arrangement and combination of parts or theequivalents thereof, hereinafter described and claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same with parts broken awayfor clearer illustration.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of a preferred embodiment of myinvention.

The following views are taken in the direction indicated by the arrowsand are partly in elevation and partly in section.

Figure 4 is taken from Figure 2 and on the line 104-104.

Figure 5 is taken from Figure 2 and on the line 105105.

Figure 6 is taken from Figure 2 and on the line 106-106.

Figure 7 is taken from 107107.

Figure 8 is taken from Figure 2 and on the line Figure 9 is taken fromFigure 2 and on the line 109109.

Figure 10 is a plan below the line 110-110, from Figure '7.

Figure 11 is taken from Figure 2 and on the line Figure 2 and on theline 113-113 from Figure 9. 9

Figure 14 is a cross-section taken on the line 114-114 from Figure 9.

More specially, referring to the drawings, 20 designates a screedfinishing machine, a type sold to the trade for finishing concretepavements under construction. The screed frame 21 carries a tamper bar22 designated to have an up and down motion against the newly laidconcrete pavement slab 23.

In carrying out my invention, I intend to utilize the tamper bar 22 andits action as an aid in forming a trench 24 necessary for the receptionof the marking element 25 to be used.

A shoe 26 is provided and adapted to be attached to the tamper bar 22 bybolts 27. The bottom surface is flat and curved upward at the forwardend to join the top, thus formed it will extend above the surface 28 ofthe concrete at the forward edge 29 and therefore ride over the.concrete 23 and depress it by action of the tamper bar 22 and theadvance of the screed 20 on the track 30 and make a clean trench 24. Theshoe will be made in several widths, as some pavements may require anarrow mark to indicate lanes while others may require a wide mark.

In order to perform the various functions necessary to carry out theobjects above mentioned, I have provided a machine, a generaldescription of which will be given and thereafter will follow a detaileddescription of the working parts of the machine.

A frame structure 31 having traction wheels 32 and designed to followthe screed 20 and to run on the same track 30 and straddle the newlylaid concrete slab 23, forms the main body of the machine.

Adjustably secured to the frame structure 31 is a subframe 33 thatcarries the operating units in their proper sequence comprising a trenchreforming roller 34, a hopper 35 for holding a quantity of the pre-mixedmarking element 25, and immediately below, a marking element guide andshaper 36.

A covering material 37 is carried on bracket 38 above the sub-frame 33and is led downwardly and under a forming roller 39 after which it isrun between the cover laying guide 40. Behind this is a presser roller41 that presses the covering material 37 and marking element 25 intoshape in the trench 24. Following the presser roller is a flattening orfinishing roller 42 to level the marking element 25 and coveringmaterial 37 to the finished level or surface of the concrete slab 43. f

The machine may be power driven so that it may advance much the same asthe screed so it will travel at approximately the same speed, or it maybe manually operated by a crank, not shown, or other suitable means foradvancing the machine.

As shown, a power plant is indicated at 44 which drives a transmissionindicated at 45 to drive shafts at 46 and 47 connected by universaljoints 48 to drive the traction wheels 32 while the forward wheels mayrun free.

Expansion springs 49 are placed on the axles abutting the wheels on oneside to cause the traction wheels to grip the outside of the track, orin case the flange of the wheels is arranged on the .inside of the trackthe spring location will be on the inside of the wheels, so the machinewill be steady and not creep or sway sideways, therefore the trench willbe reasonably straight and even along the edges so as to leave a cleardefinition for marking.

It is necessary, due to curvature of the roadway being built, to employjacks 50, (or other suitable means not shown may be employed), one ormore of which are to be mounted on either side of the framed structure31 so that the machine may be raised to allow one side to advance whilethe other side on the jack will remain at rest and thus the machine mayround a curve while working. This is only an explanation of the use ofthe jacks employed and not as new or original herein.

The sub-frame 33 may be lowered or raised by the lever 51 and connectedlinkage 52 thru bell cranks 53 and tie bars 54 pivotally connected tothe sub-frame 33.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, and '7, it will-be noted that the sectionalshowing of the concrete slab 23 is spaced away from the operating partsof the machine as when the sub-frame is raised to more clearly definethe work performed by parts in each view.

In Figure 5, a front view is had of the shoe 26 attached to the tamperbar 22 the sides of the shoe 26 being sloped outwardly from bottom totop, thus giving the shoe 26 a slight draft for easy entrance and exitfrom the concrete, thereby making clean side walls and a good edge tothe trench 24, also leaving the surface 28 of the concrete 23undisturbed along the edge of the said trench.

In Figure 6, the trench finishing roller 34 is shown to be composed ofseveral parts, a middle roller 55 and a cone-shape roller 56 on eitherside, the middle roller 55 being the trench finisher which has shoulders5'? on either side, of a lesser diameter than the main body, with thesurface between forming a slight curve or fillet so as to round thesides of the trench 24. The tapered rollers 56 are of the same diameteras the shoulders 57 where they adjoin thereto and extend outwardly ashort distance. The middle roller 55 is made in various widths toaccommodate for the various widths of trenches desired to be made. Theroller assembly rotates freely on a shaft 58 fixed in hangers 59 thatare adjustably mounted on the sub-frame 33 so as to accommodate for thewidth of the trench finishing roller 34.

In Figure 7, the hopper 35 is provided with sloping sides 60 with anopening 61 in the bottom,

said bottom is provided with a gate 62 suitably operated by lever 63 foropening and closing the same. The marking element guide and shaper 36 ismade of steel plate, or other suitable material, in members consistingof side members 64 and 65 turned inwardly to overlap at the rear so thatthey may be spaced apart and still have a wall 66 at the rear. Said wallso formed is cut away to a little more than the depthof the trench 24and rounded toward the middle to form a half oval or arch 67, then asthe shaper 36 passes over the marking element 25 it will be given anoval form in cross-section and be slightly higher than the finishedsurface 43 of the concrete slab 23.

The forward under edge of each member 64 and 65 is curved upwardly so asto over run the bottom of the trench as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 8, the cover forming roller 39 is concaved transversely on itsouter surface 68 and wide enough to accommodate the widest coveringmaterial 3'? that will be used. Said roller isrotatably fixed on a shaft69 that is hung in bracket 70 adjustably secured to the sub-frame 33.Tension bar 38' is fastened to the brackets 38 and extends around theforward side of the paper roll 37 and bears against the outer surfacethereof to place a tension on the paper passing under the roller 38 soas to keep it taut while the machine is in operation. The purpose ofsaid roller is to partially prepare said covering material 37 for easyentrance to the cover laying guide 40 in which it is further formed forcovering the marking element 25.

In Figure 9, the cover laying guide 40 is shaped from plate steel orother suitable material, consisting of three members fastened together.The bottom edge of the two side members 71 is curved forward andupwardly as shown in Figure 2 so as to over run the bottom of the trench24. The third or cross member 72 is curved to form an oval or arch tomatch the shape of the end wall 66 of the marking element shaper 36, andpositioned slopingly toward the rear, high enough for the cover material37 to be carried above the marking element 25. The cross member will bemade in various widths for different widths of marks. The bracket '73supporting said laying guide 40 is adjustable on the sub-frame as shownin Figures 13 and 14. This type of adjustment is typical for several ofthe units of the machine where a width and height adjustment isnecessary. The cross bar is slotted at 74- so the downwardly extendingarms '75 of the members '71 may be drawn inwardly or outwardly.

The upturned ends 76 of the cross bar are slotted at 77 to obtain theraising and lowering adjustment in relation to the sub-frame 33 to whichthe bar 73 is attached.

In Figure 10, a plan view shows,the bracket 78 and rods 79 on which themarking element guide and shaper 36 is adjustably supported. The turnedin ends forming the end wall 66 are shown overlapping as stated before.The side members 64 and 65 are provided with ends 80 provided withopenings adapted to slide on the rods 79, there being set screws 81threaded in said ends to lock said side members on said rods.

In Figure 11, the presser roller assembly 41 is made of two flangedrollers 82 spaced on either side of a spacer roller 83 and a spacercollar 85 is placed on either side of said flanged rollers so that achange in width may be effected by using a wider spacer roller 83 andshorter spacer collars 85.

The flanged portions 86 of the roller 82 extend beyond the main body toa diameter sufiiciently larger so the outer edge 8'7 will reach thebottom of the trench, while the contour of the rolling surface incross-section of the assembled rollers between the flanges formssubstantially the same arch 67 as that of the marking element shaperwall 66 and the cover material 37 fits within and against the undersidethereof.

The outer portion of the flanged rollers are filleted at 88 after whichthe surface is slightly cone-shaped to the edge to form a relief for theconcrete surface 43. The shaft 84, which is supported in bracket 89 isadjustably secured to the sub-frame 33.

When in operating position the rollers 41 press the cover material 37 onto the marking element 25 leaving the pressed marking element and coverslightly above the surface of the concrete surface 43.

In Figure 12, the flattening or finishing roller 42 is considerablywider than the widest mark that may be made. It is slightly taperedtowards the ends 90 so as to form a relief at each end of said roller.Said roller is rotatably mounted on a shaft 90' fixed in adjustablesupporting bracket 90' secured to the sub-frame 33. Said roller rollsthe marking element 25 and covering material 37 down flush with finishedsurface 43 of the concrete slab which closes up the gaps 91 (shown bydotted lines) left by the flanged portion of the pressing roller 41between the sides of the trench 24 and turned down cover material 37thereby sealing said marking element 25 and securing the margins of saidcovering material 3'7 in the slab 23.

A cleaning scraper 92 bears on the finishing roller 42 to insure a cleansurface. Finishing rollers 34 and presser 41 are provided with suitablescrapers 92 and 92" respectively.

An operators platform 93, fixed to the frame structure 31 projects fromeither side thereof to about the full width of the end portions 94 and95 of the frame structure 31 and a marginal walk 96 extends the fulllength between end 94 on either side of said frame structure and theoperator's platform 93.

Tie bars 9'7 reach from near the wheels on the ends 94 and 95 of theframe structure 31 to the middle portion thereof for stiffness of thesaid framed structure.

In order to accommodate for the construction of more than one stripesimultaneously, several operating units may be constructed in gangs onseveral sub-frames 5, adjustably fixed to the main framed structure 31,with respective shoes 26 fixed to the tamper 22 of the screed 20.

Where it is desirable to apply the marking element 25 to old pavementthe machine may be adapted therefor by removing the trench finishingroller 34 and changing the type of traction wheels 32 used. of course,the use of the screed and tamper will be unnecessary.

When operating the machine it may be desirable to relocate the sub-frame33 laterally of the framed structure 31. This may be accomplished by themeans herein employed and as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The linkageconsisting of the ratcheted lever 51, tie rod 52, bellcranks 53, andlinks 53 are carried on shafts 98, supported in bearings 99 secured tothe framed structure 31.

The shafts 98 are threaded for a suitable distance back from one end andthe bearings 99 correspondingly have complementary threads therein forthe reception of said threaded shafts.

Handwheels 100 are fixed to one end of each shaft 98 and as thebellcranks 53 linked to the sub-frame 33 are fixed to said shafts,rotation by i an operator will cause said sub-frame to move laterallyright or left by reason of the action of the arrangement described.

It will be noted that ample space is provided between the sides of thesub-frame 33 and the framed structure 31 to allow for this lateralmovement.

In the practical operation of my invention, any distortion of thepavement slab contour caused by the action of the shoe on the tamper isimmediately corrected by the action of the tamper while the slabconcrete is in a plastic condition.

Due to the vibration of the slab concrete, caused by the action of thetamper, there will result a certain amount of subsidence in the sides ofthe trench as formed by the shoe on the tamper, which subsidence iscorrected by the reforming roller on the machine which follows thetamper after a sufficient length of time to prevent the blending of theslab concrete with ,the marking element from vibration or other cause.The placing of the marking element, laying the protective covering andthe other operations of the machine follow in proper sequence as shownby the drawings.

While I have shown an operative construction or'specific embodiment ofmy invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details ofconstruction, but may employ such changes in the details of constructionand the arrangement of parts as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. The combination of wheeled machines adapted to run on rails for lanemarking of pavement while under construction, comprising a screedfinishing machine equipped with a tamper, trench tamping means securedthereto for forming a trench, a marking element, and a marking elementmachine for applying said marking element in said trench, a covermaterial, means for covering said marking element with said material,both machines being separated and power driven.

2. The combination of wheeled machines adapted to run on rails for lanemarking of pavement while under construction, comprisinga screedfinishing machine equipped with a tamper, trench tamping means securedthereto for forming a trench, a marking element, a marking elementmachine for applying said marking element in said trench, a covermaterial and means consisting of guides and rollers for placing saidcover material over said marking element carried by said marking elementmachine, both machines being separated and power driven.

3. The combination of wheeled machines adapted to run on rails for lanemarking of pavement whiie under construction, comprising a screedfinishing machine equipped with a tamper, trench tamping means securedthereto for forming a trench, a marking element, a marking elementmachine for applying said marking element in said trench, said machineprovided with trench reforming means after which said marking element isapplied, a cover material, means for covering said marking element withsaid material, both machines being separated and power driven.

4. The combination of wheeled machines adapted to run on rails for lanemarking of pavement while under construction, comprising a screedfinishing machine equipped with a tamper, trench tamping means securedthereto for forming a trench, a marking element, a marking elementmachine for applying said marking element in said trench, covermaterial, means for covering said marking element with said material,said machine provided with a trench reforming means and a valved hopperfixed to the marking element machine for holding a quantity of saidmarking element.

5. The combination cf wheeled machines adapted to run on rails formarking of pavement while under construction, comprising a screedfinishing machine equipped with a tamper, trench tamping means securedthereto for forming a trench, a marking element, a marking elementmachine for applying said marking element in said trench, said machineprovided with trench reforming means, a valved hopper fixed to the Imarking element machine for holding a quantity secured thereto forforming a trench, a marking element, a marking element machine forapplying said mark'mg element in said trench, said machine provided withtrench reforming means, a valved hopper fixed to the marking elementmachine for holding a quantity of said marking element, guide andforming means for positioning said marking element in said trench, acover material, means consisting of guides and rollers for placing saidcover material over said marking element, and a finishing roller forforming the covered marking element flush with the finished surface ofsaid pavement in which it is placed, both machines being separated "andpower driven.

7.- The combination of wheeled machines, each having a frame structure,adapted to run on rails, for lane marking of pavement while underconstruction, comprising a screed finishing machine equipped with atamper, trench tamping means secured thereto for forming a trench, amarking element, a marking element machine for applying said markingelement in said trench, said machine provided with trench reformingmeans, a valved hopper fixed to the marking element machine for holdinga quantity of said marking element, guide and forming means forpositioning said marking element in said trench, a cover material, meansconsisting of guides and rollers for placing said cover material oversaid marking element, and a finishing roller for forming the coveredmarking element flush with the finished surface of said pavement inwhich it is placed, all of said reforming means, guides and formingmeans, guides and finishing roller adjustably secured to said framestructure, both machines being separated and power driven.

8. The combination of wheeled machines, each having a frame structure,adapted to run on rails for lane marking of a pavement while underconstruction, comprising a screed finishing machine equipped with atamper, trench tamping means secured thereto for forming a trench, amarking element, a, marking element machine for applying said markingelement in said trench, said machine provided with a sub-frame adaptedfor adjustment vertically of said frame structure, trench reformingmeans, a valved hopper fixed to the marking element machine for holdinga quantity of said marking element, guide and forming means forpositioning said marking element in said trench, a cover material, meansconsisting of guides and rollers for placing said cover material oversaid marking element, and a finishing roller for forming the coveredmarking element flush with the'finished surface of said pavement inwhich it is placed, all of said trench reforming means, marking elementguides and forming means, cover guides and rollers and finishing rolleradjustably secured to said subframe, said sub-frame further beingadapted to be fixed laterally of said frame structure.

9. In combination, means for forming a trench in a concrete pavementunder construction, and

-means for depositing a marking element therein,

a cover for said element and means for applying said cover on saidmarking element.

concrete pavement while under construction, comprising a concretefinishing machine having a tamper, means attached thereto for forming atrench in a pavement being finished, a marking element, a cover materialtherefor and a machine for depositing said marking element in saidpavement.

12. In combination, means for lane marking of concrete pavement whileunder construction, comprising a concrete finishing machine providedwith a tamper, means attached thereto for forming a trench in a pavementbeing finished, a marking element, a machine adapted for carrying aquantity of said marking element, means for depositing said element insaid trench, a cover material, means for covering said marking elementlaid in said concrete, and means for leveling said element substantiallyflush with the contour of said pavement.

13. In combination, means for lane marking of concrete pavement whileunder construction, comprising a concrete finishing machine providedwith a tamper, means attached thereto for forming a trench in a pavementbeing finished, a marking element, a machine adapted for carrying anddepositing said marking element in said trench, a cover material andmeans for laying said cover over said marking element deposited in saidtrench, and means for leveling said covered element flush with thecontour of said finished pavement.

14. A power driven machine adapted to operate on the side headers andover the newly laid concrete slab, comprising means for forming a trenchin said concrete slab, a marking element, means for depositing saidelement in said trench, means for covering said element with paper andmeans for rolling said element and paper flush with the surface of thenewly laid slab.

DAVID Y. BATE.

